NECESSITY,
FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 351.335 requires the Department for Natural
Resources to promulgate rules and administrative regulations concerning the
manufacture, transportation, sale, storage, or use of explosives and
unassembled components of explosives, and the maintenance of these explosives
which have a direct bearing on safety to life and property. This administrative
regulation establishes the safety procedures to be used prior to detonation
of a blast, including warning signals, control of access to the blast area, and
procedures for clearing the area around the blast.

Section 1. Firing
the Blast. (1) A code of blasting signals equivalent to Table U-1 shall be
posted at one (1) or more conspicuous places at the operations, and all
employees shall be required to familiarize themselves with the code and conform
to it. The blaster shall ensure that this code is communicated clearly to all
persons who may enter the danger zone surrounding the blast area. Danger signs
shall be placed at all entrances to the blast area.

TABLE
U-1

WARNING SIGNAL - A one
(1) minute series of long blasts five (5) minutes prior to the blast signal.

BLAST SIGNAL - A series
of short blasts one (1) minute prior to the detonation.

ALL CLEAR SIGNAL - A
prolonged blast following the inspection of the blast area.

(2) The device used to
issue the warning signals shall be loud enough to be heard by all persons in the
danger zone around the blast, and shall have a sound distinctive enough to be
readily identified. Ordinary truck and automobile horns shall not be used as
warning signals.

(3)
Before a blast is fired, the blaster in charge
shall:

(a) Make certain that all
surplus explosives are in a safe place;

(b) Make certain that all
persons, vehicles, and equipment are at a safe distance or under sufficient
cover; and

(c) Give a loud warning
signal.

(4) No person
shall remain in an area within the danger zone after being requested to leave
by the blaster in charge or by a state explosives and blasting inspector.

(5) Flagmen shall
be safely stationed on highways which pass through the danger zone to stop
traffic during blasting operations.

(6) It shall be
the duty of the blaster to fix the time of blasting and to determine the
area constituting the danger zone around the blast within which the warning
signals shall be audible.

(7) If necessary for public safety, the
department may require the blaster to submit a written plan describing the
warning signals, notification procedures, and access control methods to be used
on a particular blast site.

(8)
Before firing an underground blast, warning shall be given, and all possible
entries into the blasting area and any entrances to any working place where a
drift, raise or other opening is about to hole through, shall be carefully
guarded. The blaster shall make sure that all persons are out of the blast area
before detonating a blast. (2 Ky.R. 616; Am. 3 Ky.R. 364; eff. 9-1-76; 4 Ky.R.
307; eff. 5-3-78; 29 Ky.R. 187; 712; eff. 9-16-02; TAm eff. 8-9-2007.)